Honey yield of different commercial apiaries treated with Lactobacillus salivarius A3iob, a new bee-probiotic strain

Abstract

The main objective of this study was to determine the impact of Lactobacillus salivarius A3iob, a honey bee gut-associated strain (GenBank code access KX198010), on honey yield. Independent assays were conducted from May to September 2014 and 2015, in three commercial apiaries: Tilquiza, El Carmen and Yala, all located in north-western Argentina. Local Apis mellifera L. bees were kept in standard Langstroth hives; treated hives were fed once a month with 1×10 cfu/ml viable Lactobacillus cells, administered to the bees through a Doolittle-type feeder in 125 g/l sucrose syrup. Control hives were only given the syrup mixed with MRS sterile broth. The main honey harvest was done in December in all groups and we found that there was an overall increase in honey yield from the treated hives. In 2014, all treated hives produced between 2.3 to 6.5 times more honey than the controls. However, in 2015, higher honey average yields in the treated hives at El Carmen and Yala were obtained, yet not at Tilquiza, because of a slight mishap. They experienced the swarming of several bee colonies due to a higher number of bees without appropriate management, which caused the control group to yield more honey compared to the hives fed with Lactobacillus. Interestingly, at El Carmen, two honey harvests were recorded: one in winter and another in summer (July and December 2015, respectively). This unexpected result arose from the particular flora of the region, mainly Tithonia tubaeformis, which blooms in winter. L. salivarius A3iob cells prove to be a natural alternative that will positively impact the beekeepers' economy by providing a higher honey yield.

The Effect of Pesticides on the Microbiome of Animals

“…Thus, the "probiotic concept" is actively transferred to beekeeping. A significant correlation was found between the increase in honey yield and the use of probiotics (Lactobacillus salivarius) comparing with the control group which did not receive probiotic [99]. Adding a probiotic to honeybee feed reduces yeast colonies [100], which subsequently affects the overall immunity of insects [101].…”

Effect of Lactic Bacteria on <i>Ascosphaera apis</i> and <i>A. atra </i>

“…The three species of Lactobacillus isolated from beebread for the first in Jujuy, formed a monophyletic clade separate from bee intestinal strains isolated by other authors in Salta. These last had exhibit beneficial effect to honeybees [4,5,8,11,13].…”

“…Indels were used as a 5 th state character. Five Lactobacillus strains isolated from Salta, Argentina [4,5,13] were included in the analysis and the Bacillus amyloliquefaciens RHNK22 (NZ_LMAG01000018.1) as outgroup strain.…”

Understanding the Effects of Sublethal Pesticide Exposure on Honey Bees: A Role for Probiotics as Mediators of Environmental Stress

“…In addition, beneficial bacteria can bolster colony development, which is notably decreased by pesticide exposure. Honey bees supplemented with LAB typically produce more honey, have more pollen stores, and have increased brood counts (Audisio and Benítez-Ahrendts, 2011;Audisio et al, 2015;Alberoni et al, 2018;Fanciotti et al, 2018). For example, L. johnsonii CRL1647 stimulates egg-laying, which can increase the hive population (Audisio and Benítez-Ahrendts, 2011).…”